Help Teresa Recover From a Massive Stroke
Hello, we are Laura and Colton McKay, asking for urgent help for our beautiful 4-year-old daughter, Teresa.
The Night Everything Changed
On September 19, Teresa was playing when she suddenly began wailing in pain. Within moments, she collapsed, completely unresponsive, in my arms.
At McMaster Hospital in Hamilton, doctors gave us the devastating news: Teresa had suffered a massive stroke. To protect her brain, she was placed in an induced coma for four days. Once brought out of the coma, she was transferred to Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.
Teresa’s Road to Recovery
By the grace of God, Teresa is fighting hard. After nearly a month in intensive care, she is awake and taking small but meaningful steps forward. The stroke left her with no movement on her right side, and she now faces the long journey of relearning how to move, speak, and function.
She has been transferred to this specialized children’s rehabilitation center in Toronto. Right now, she cannot stand on her own, needs a wheelchair for mobility, and requires constant care, including help with basic needs like diaper changes. We do not know how long she will need to remain in rehabilitation, but we are committed to staying as long as it takes to give her the best chance at recovery.
Why We Need Your Help
While we are deeply grateful for the care Teresa has received, the financial burden on our family is overwhelming:
- Rehabilitation Costs: Many of Teresa’s essential therapies, equipment, and treatments are not covered by OHIP.
- Medical Supplies and Daily Care: Teresa needs a wheelchair, ongoing diaper changes, and specialized supplies that are costly and not covered.
- Loss of Income: Colton has stepped away from work to care for our family. This comes after another setback just months ago, when a driver t-boned our car, and left him off work. That accident caused us to lose income even before Teresa’s stroke.
- Housing and Travel: To stay near Teresa, we are paying more than $2,500 each month for accommodations at the hospital (not including food), along with the added costs of travel and daily living. This is becoming impossible to manage.
When this journey first began, our only focus was on Teresa’s health and survival. We never imagined we would need to reach out like this, but as the weeks have gone on, it has become clear that the costs of her care, therapies, and living expenses are far greater than what we first anticipated.
How You Can Help
Your donations will directly fund Teresa’s ongoing therapies, medical equipment, and recovery. They will also help keep our family stable so we can focus fully on her healing and on providing security for her older sister.
Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference. Even if you are not able to give, simply sharing Teresa’s story and this link helps more than you know. If donations exceed what is needed for Teresa’s recovery, any extra funds will be given back into another GoFundMe cause or donated to the rehabilitation centre caring for her, so that other children and families in crisis can receive help.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your kindness, generosity, and prayers. May God bless you for standing with us in this fight for Teresa’s future.
With gratitude,
Laura & Colton McKay
(Teresa’s Loving Parents)
Organizer
